"We've had a number of hearings from the emergency services on the spot - people that rented the skis, witnesses.

"We had some analysis of the skis and the helmet. We also examined the film that was made on the camera that was fixed on Mr Schumacher's head."

Chief gendarme Stephane Bozon added: "Schumacher found himself in an area which was not marked with the dangers of the mountain.

"Mr Schumacher is in fact a very good skier, so he was going on the left-hand side in an area above what limits the main piste.

"He was on terrain that was really more sloped and because of that slope there was certain speed.

"He tried to reduce the speed, but there were a few curves, so a parallel trace remained to the direction he was going in."

Investigations are continuing and a range of experts - both accident investigators and skiing experts - are being consulted.

Fans celebrated Schumacher's 45th birthday with a silent vigil

"That particular film was extremely legible and confirms the information we had at hand," Mr Quincy explained.

"We will take advantage of this film to recreate the situation.

"We will know the path that Mr Schumacher followed.

"The film will be examined and the technician will look at it."

Asked directly if Schumacher had "made a mistake", Mr Quincy replied: "At the current stage of the enquiry, I can’t answer that question."

Schumacher remains in a critical, but stable, condition in Grenoble hospital following last month's accident.

His manager, Sabine Kehm, said on Monday: "The patient's privacy requires that we do not give out details of his treatment and it is for this reason that we do not envisage any new press conferences, nor to send out any written press releases, in the near future."

Medics have noted a slight improvement in the health of Schumacher, but he remains critical following two brain operations.